It is common knowledge that a healthy diet and exercise help to stave off heart problems. However, after being diagnosed with heart disease, it’s important to take things slow. Too much exercise can actually have adverse health effects and it is important to be aware of the type and intensity of fitness that is right for your body. The Heart and Stroke Foundation offers a comprehensive outline of this important topic. The resources provided can help address the uncertainty associated with a diagnosis. The best place to start is through a cardiac rehabilitation...

When he was a kid, Zahir had always had plenty of energy. That didn’t change when he grew up and joined the workforce. Data science is usually a sedentary profession, but his colleagues always said that he had a bounce in his step when he walked around the office. They also noticed when he slowed down shortly after turning 52. Zahir figured it was one of the normal side effects of ageing. He didn’t necessarily like his new reality – walking to the other end of his Saskatoon-based office was now enough to leave him exhausted and short of breath – but there didn’t seem to...

As mother of two teenagers and a receptionist for a large dental office in Vancouver, Leona was no stranger to stress. At 46 years old she felt like she finally had a handle on life’s stress, despite it never slowing down. No matter what, she could handle anything that was thrown her way. That was until the headaches started. Initially, she didn’t think anything of it. They weren’t severe and they were infrequent enough that they didn’t worry her. But while she was coping with them, her company made some major structural changes that put more responsibility on her...

Heart disease is considered the most prevalent cause of death in the world and is a serious problem plaguing Canadians. According to the most recent data available, approximately 2.4 million Canadian adults above the age of 20 live with ischemic heart disease. This includes approximately 578,000 adults with a history of heart attacks. The condition affects approximately 1 in 4 Canadians, with the prevalence increasing significantly above the age of 70. So why should we be concerned, and what do we need to know? It’s estimated that approximately 12 adult Canadians with...

When applying for disability benefits because of an addiction, there are specific hurdles to overcome. One of the most difficult is also one of the most necessary parts of the application process – being in a rehabilitation program. Participating in a formal rehabilitation program or staying in a rehabilitation facility is something most if not all insurance companies consider mandatory to qualify for disability. The issue is that they’re not always available and consistently have long waiting lists. These wait times, particularly for long-term treatment programs,...

What is Heart Disease? When we think of heart disease, we picture one ailment. The truth, however, is that heart disease refers to a group of different conditions that impact the function and structure of the heart. There are many different types of heart disease, most of which can be grouped into one of four categories based on how they affect the heart: coronary artery and vascular disease, structural heart disease, heart failure, and heart rhythm disorders. This last category is also known as arrhythmia, and it impacts millions of Canadians. What is arrhythmia? ...